diff --git a/server/NeonSprawl.Server.Tests/Game/Factions/InMemoryFactionStandingStoreTests.cs b/server/NeonSprawl.Server.Tests/Game/Factions/InMemoryFactionStandingStoreTests.cs
index b5dd1f3..bf11902 100644
--- a/server/NeonSprawl.Server.Tests/Game/Factions/InMemoryFactionStandingStoreTests.cs
+++ b/server/NeonSprawl.Server.Tests/Game/Factions/InMemoryFactionStandingStoreTests.cs
@@ -118,6 +118,21 @@ public sealed class InMemoryFactionStandingStoreTests
         Assert.Equal(0, store.TryGetStanding(PlayerId, GridFactionId).Standing);
     }
 
+    [Fact]
+    public void TryGetStanding_ShouldPreferUnknownFaction_WhenPlayerNotWritableAndFactionUnknown()
+    {
+        // Arrange
+        var store = CreateStore();
+        // Act
+        var read = store.TryGetStanding(UnknownPlayerId, "not_a_real_faction");
+        var write = store.TryApplyStandingDelta(UnknownPlayerId, "not_a_real_faction", 5);
+        // Assert
+        Assert.False(read.Success);
+        Assert.Equal(FactionStandingReasonCodes.UnknownFaction, read.ReasonCode);
+        Assert.False(write.Success);
+        Assert.Equal(FactionStandingReasonCodes.UnknownFaction, write.ReasonCode);
+    }
+
     [Fact]
     public void TryApplyStandingDelta_ShouldDenyNonWritablePlayer()
     {
diff --git a/server/NeonSprawl.Server/Game/Factions/InMemoryFactionStandingStore.cs b/server/NeonSprawl.Server/Game/Factions/InMemoryFactionStandingStore.cs
index 3a5eb6c..9da80e8 100644
--- a/server/NeonSprawl.Server/Game/Factions/InMemoryFactionStandingStore.cs
+++ b/server/NeonSprawl.Server/Game/Factions/InMemoryFactionStandingStore.cs
@@ -48,16 +48,16 @@ public sealed class InMemoryFactionStandingStore(
             return DenyRead(FactionStandingReasonCodes.UnknownFaction);
         }
 
-        if (!CanWritePlayer(player))
-        {
-            return DenyRead(FactionStandingReasonCodes.PlayerNotWritable);
-        }
-
         if (!factionRegistry.TryGetDefinition(faction, out var definition) || definition is null)
         {
             return DenyRead(FactionStandingReasonCodes.UnknownFaction);
         }
 
+        if (!CanWritePlayer(player))
+        {
+            return DenyRead(FactionStandingReasonCodes.PlayerNotWritable);
+        }
+
         var key = FactionStandingIds.MakeStandingKey(player, faction);
         var raw = standingByKey.GetValueOrDefault(key, 0);
         return new FactionStandingReadOutcome(true, null, FactionStandingIds.ClampStanding(raw, definition));
@@ -78,16 +78,16 @@ public sealed class InMemoryFactionStandingStore(
             return DenyMutation(FactionStandingReasonCodes.UnknownFaction);
         }
 
-        if (!CanWritePlayer(player))
-        {
-            return DenyMutation(FactionStandingReasonCodes.PlayerNotWritable);
-        }
-
         if (!factionRegistry.TryGetDefinition(faction, out var definition) || definition is null)
         {
             return DenyMutation(FactionStandingReasonCodes.UnknownFaction);
         }
 
+        if (!CanWritePlayer(player))
+        {
+            return DenyMutation(FactionStandingReasonCodes.PlayerNotWritable);
+        }
+
         var key = FactionStandingIds.MakeStandingKey(player, faction);
         lock (keyLocks.GetOrAdd(key, _ => new object()))
         {